Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-01-27
WARRINGTON LETTER.
wssmsorOx, DC. Jan. Is, 1857:

w WAsHINGTON, DC. Jan. IL, 1887.
The passage of the great Interstate
Commerce bill, which is the result Of a
popular movement beginning twenty
years ago, marks the past week in Con-
gress. There was good deal ofimportant
legislation besides this, however, such
as that giving the Agricultural Depart
ment Executiveimportanc andits chief
a seat i'm the Cabinet; that eXtirpating
the hierarchy mt Salt Lake City, and
that doubling the militia appropriation
for the year. This last oct will, doubt
less, be well received everywhere; for
the time has come when 1t is acknOwl-
edged that the citizen soldiery of the
land ought to receive more attention
than has even yet been shown them.
It was expected that the Senate would
settle the vexed question of Commerce
by railroads rs it did, about the hour OF
midnight, on Friday, but no one knew
how many more Senators would be
found supporting than opposing the
bill. 1t came triumphantly through by
a vote of forty-three to fifteen, although
a number of Senators who voted for the
measure were dissatisfied with it. These
decided to set aside their own views
and follow the dictates of their con-
stituents, saying in this instance, where
legislation is necessarily experimental
it is safe to give the people the benefit
of the doubt.
The Interstate Commerce bill was
framed and pressed forward by men
who were mostly honest in their effort
to relieve the people, but there are q
good many legislators who doubt its ef-
ficacv. Some say the railroads will put
up their through freights instead of re-
ducing their way freights, and thus in
sure the equality which the law de-
mands.
Now that the Anti-Mormon bill has
been passed by the House, one hears a
good many comments which indicate
an appreciation of the severity of the
measure. 1t not only makes polygamy
felony, but dissolves the financial cor
porations as the Latter Day Saints and
the Perpetual Emigration Fund Com
pany, and practically abolishes all the
machinery, religious or political, that
is now employed directly or indirectly
in the maintenance of the Mormon
Church system. There are differences
of opinion as to the wisdom and justice
of the policy, but the friends of the
measure lust passed assume that the
malady is of such terrible nature as to
require heroic treatment. Its oppo-
nents say it would be better to wait up
on the slow attritions of time and the
pressure of public opinion to wear the
evil out.g@ tfF 30 L. ----. -
The Republicans pledged themselves
to eradicate, polygamy in 1856, more
than thirty years ago. they held pow,
er for nearly quarter Of century and
as Mormonism still f1ourishes it is left
for the Democrats to perform duty
which the Republicans neglected or
else could not do. OF course everybody
desires that the "twin relic of barbar-
ismn shall be destroyed, if 1t can be
done without straining the Constitu-
ton. Hon. Randolph Tucker, of Vir-
ginia, who reported the Antl-Mormon
| bill, held that there was nothing in 1t
that could hurt the conscience even OF
mormon. If he thought there was,
he said he would vote against 1t.
The State reception at the White
House on Thursday evening was gor-
geous in the gold lace of the guests OF
honor, the Diplomatic Corps, with mu-
sic, gaslight, flowers and plans on ev-
ery side, a crush of richly costumed
women and q crowd of famous men,
many of them in brilliant uniforms.
Beside the official world of the Capital,
about sixty persons in private life were
invited to the reception. Among these
was noticed Mrs. Frank Leslie, and ii
was difficult to decide whether she or
Mrs. Stanford, the wife of the Senator
from California, wore the largest or the
finest or the greatest number of dai-
monds. .. ...D- I'LL ..r...
The Marine band which furnishes
music at White House receptions, Is
enthusiastic in praise of the present
Administration Mr.. Cleveland feeds
them we'll and is sociable and kind to
them and Secretary Whitney is q man
Just after their own hearts. When
they got through at the Presidents on
New Years's day, the Secretary of the
Navy took them over to his house
to play at the reception there. He
paid them SIS apiece for their services
and the leader $40. This was the first
time they ever received remuneration
| from q Cabinet officer or any Other
Government official. They say the
worst treatment they ever had was un'
der President Arthur, when they were
sent home at two or three o'clock in
the morning with their stomachs full o.
oyster soup and beer. Blame was not
fixed upon Mr.. Arthur himself, but up
on his steward. --.
The far-famed Marine Band is com
posed of thirty-eight men, and the sal
| fN,
first class talent, S24 for second class
and $21 for third class. The leader gets
about 81 900 year. This and the West
Point band are the only two bands, az
such, that the Government supports
Although the Marine band enjoy'
some perquisites, and good many priv
ileges and honors, it complains that it,
salaries are too small, and that frs
rate men cannot be kept at the wage
paid by the Government.